Dear friends of Europeade,
We wanted to give you some information about what has been happening since our formal communication about the cancellation, and about the future situation.
Since the signing of the official contract in October 2025, we had been preparing for the 60th Anniversary of Europeade in Bergamo in partnership with the non-profit organisation Ducato di Piazza Pontida, based in the city. A special dance had been made to celebrate and we were all looking forward to meeting and enjoying dance and music as usual.
As with every Europeade, the organizing committee visited Bergamo several times and spoke with supporters of the Europeade (including conversations between the IEC President and members of the Lombardy region Parliament and the Minister of Culture personally) receiving positive feedback from all sides. We at the International Europeade Committee (IEC) were confident that the 60th Europeade could be one of the best yet. Our secretariat was in constant contact with the Local Organising Committee, answering questions about practical issues.
Unfortunately, just a few weeks before Europeade we received the disappointing news from Bergamo that holding Europeade there was not possible for organizational, operational, and economic reasons. The overall global economic and political situation were also contributing factors. The IEC and the secretariat continued to devote all possible efforts to preserving the event, but sadly they were unable to change the situation. The IEC then informed all the many groups who had registered to attend of the cancellation. At the same time and with the assistance of an international lawyer from Antwerp, legal action was begun against our contracting partner Ducato di Piazza Pontida, and this process is still continuing.
Today, above all, we want to thank you for your trust, commitment and patience. Europeade is not just an event. It is a European community of people who come together to sing, dance, make music and share traditions.
We are all extremely disappointed by the cancellation of the event, just like all of you. You, OUR PARTICIPANTS, are the most important part of the Europeade. Because even if we have a city to organize an event, you are the ones who make Europeade come alive, who bring the joy, happiness and peace from different corners of Europe. We appreciate all your efforts to keep Europeade in your hearts and we care very deeply about you, your feelings and the future of Europeade. It is wonderful that you can still manage to find the true spirit of Europeade even when there is no festival to attend.
Every organisation faces difficult moments. What matters is how we respond to them, what we learn from them, and how we use that experience to become stronger. We believe that Europeade can emerge from this difficult period with renewed strength, greater resilience and an even stronger sense of unity within our Europeade family.
Unfortunately, as a result of the cancellation we are struggling to survive as an organisation, and we are searching new possibilities to manage different options and make it easier for cities to arrange a Europeade. Could we have mini Europeades while we are looking for a new city to host a full event?
In 2029 we hope to return to Turku in Suomi (Finland) where they are keen to organise a full Europeade with us. For 2027 and 2028 we don’t have host cities yet but we are working hard on it and would like to stay connected with you. Follow us on our website and on social media to work together, looking for and finding opportunities to continue the phenomenon of the Europeade.
Warm greetings from the IEC and the regie team